Age-Appropriate Speech and Hearing Milestones

Age

Milestone

Birth to 3 months

 

• Reacts to familiar sounds or voices. For example, calms down when hearing parent’s voice.

• Reacts to sudden loud sounds. May blink, startle, or cry.

• Makes vocal sounds other than crying.

3 months to 4 months

 

• Looks in the direction of a sound to see where it’s coming from.

• Makes sounds back when you talk to them.

• Makes sounds, such as “oooo” and “ahhh” (cooing).

4 months to 6 months

 

6 months to 9 months

 

• Babbles, making repetitive sounds, such as “mama” and “baba.”

• Looks when you call their name.

• Smiles or laughs when you play peek-a-boo.

9 months to 12 months

 

12 months to 15 months

 

• Tries to say 1 or 2 words besides “mama” or “dada,” like “ba” for ball or “da” for dog.

• Follows simple directions when given with both a gesture and word. For example, they give you a book when you hold your hand out and say, “Give me the book.”

• Looks at a familiar object when you name it.

• Points to ask for something or get help.

15 months to 18 months

 

• Tries to say 3 or more words besides “mama” or “dada.”

• Follows one-step directions without any gestures, like giving you an object when you say, “Give it to me.”

18 months to 24 months

 

• Combines at least 2 words into short phrases, such as “more cookie” or “want milk.”

• Points to at least 2 body parts when you ask them to show you.

• Uses more gestures than just waving and pointing, like blowing a kiss or nodding yes.

• Points to things in a book when you ask, like “Where is the fish?”

24 months to 30 months

 

• Says about 50 words.

• Says 2 or more words, with one action word, like “Doggie run.”

• Names things in a book when you point and ask, “What is this?”

• Says words like “I,” “me,” or “we.”

• Follows simple routines when told, like helping to pick up toys when you say, “It’s clean-up time.”

30 months to 3 years

 

• Talks with you in conversation using at least 2 back-and-forth exchanges.

• Asks “who,” “what,” “where,” or “why” questions, like “Where is my ball?”

• Says what action is happening in a picture or book when asked, like “swimming,” “eating,” or “walking.”

• Says first name, when asked.

• Talks well enough for others to understand, most of the time.

3 years to 4 years

 

• Says sentences with 4 or more words.

• Says some words from a song, story, or nursery rhyme.

• Talks about at least 1 thing that happened during their day.

• Answers simple questions like “What is a pencil for?”

4 years to 5 years

 

• Tells a story they heard or made up with at least 2 events. For example, a dog was lost and a friend found it.

• Answers simple questions about a book or story after you read or tell it to them.

• Keeps a conversation going with more than 3 back-and-forth exchanges.

• Uses or recognizes simple rhymes (bat-cat, ball-tall).